Issue 11

Youth Art Month celebrates visual arts for all students across America. It not only encourages young artists but encourages quality art programs for students to flourish in the arts. All of Plymouth Community School Corporation K-12, Saint Michael’s K-8, Grace Baptist Church & Christian School K-12 students are all displaying their art at the Heartland Artist Gallery in Plymouth in celebration of Youth Art Month. Over 100 pieces of art will be displayed from a multitude of students. Every student that had an art piece into the show was invited to a reception on March 4th starting at 1PM and ending at 4PM. Miss Church and Mrs. Hansen have asked parents to join their children to celebrate not only their art but the art of other students.

The Student Art Show is compiled of different students’ art projects over the past school year. Art teachers gathered outstanding pieces and placed them in the gallery. From February 27- March 23, visitors will be able to to see a wide variety of art in the Heartland Museum at 101 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. Heartland is open from 10AM- 4PM, Tuesday- Saturday.

This year’s poster cover art is designed by Senior Bailey Bourdon. Bailey was asked how she felt about her art being used for the poster, what pieces she has in the art show and what she plans to do after high school.

Bourdon said, “I feel honored to have one of my art pieces be on the main poster for Heartland. I always enjoy seeing the gallery every year, and to have my art promote the event makes me feel very respected by the school. I am only aware of one, The Color Of Night. It is an oil pastel drawing of an owl. I have been accepted into Ball State University. I wish to get a bachelor's degree in Animation, and pursue a career in the cartoon industry. “

Other students at PHS that have art in the show include senior McKenzie Scheetz , sophomore Grace Bougher, junior Bridget Schafer, and junior Julia Patrick.

Scheetz said she has 3 pieces in the show, “I think this is a cool month to be able to showcase a bunch of different work from different artists.”

Bougher said, “I have a charcoal drawing going in the show this year. I'll definitely be dropping by the gallery and taking a look at everyone's work. I always enjoy seeing works of art from various ages and schools, and it's cool there's a month to represent youth art and art education. I believe art can have a positive influence on any community, so it's great to hold events like these so young artists can feel encouraged.”

If you would like to check out the students art, the Heartland Artist Gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM and the students art will only be there until March 23. Not only do they have students’ art on display, but their work is also available for purchase.

After finishing with a 3-10 record, the Plymouth Pilgrim boys swim team has wrapped up the season on February 17. The boys traveled to Warsaw Community High School where they participated in the IHSAA Sectionals. The Plymouth Pilgrims competed against Cass, Columbia City, Culver Academy, Huntington North, Logansport, Manchester, Northfield, Oregon Davis, Pioneer, Rochester, Tippecanoe Valley, Wabash and Warsaw. Senior Kirkland Hettich scored 28.5 points for the Pilgrims while competing in the 50 free and 100 back.

Hettich said, “For sectionals I competed really well for prelims and made it back for finals in all of my events.”

Coach Leanne Senter serves as the boys and girls swimming head coach and has filled that role for eight years. She started as the diving coach in the 2009-10 season, then she took over as the boys head coach in 2010-11.

Senter said, “The whole season was pretty awesome! The boys were competitive and placed well in both the conference and sectionals.”

Sophomore Cameron Riddle has been participating in swim for 13 years. He has been swimming for the high school for the last two years and swam competitively for eleven years. Cameron participates in the 500 free, 200 free, and the 4x100 free relay. Cameron scored 9.5 points for PHS while swimming the 500 free and the 4x100 free relay at sectionals.

Riddle said, “I felt that I did well in the 500 free and that the relay came together and did extremely well.

Junior Daniel Stauffer has been swimming competitively since he was eight years old, with breaststroke and freestyle being his favorite, and preferring sprinting events. Stauffer takes part in the 50 Free,100 Breast, 200 medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay. Stauffer scored 23.5 points for the Pilgrims while competing in sectionals at sectionals.

Stauffer said, “Sectionals went pretty well. I didn't place where I wanted to but I put up some good times.”

The team scored 171 points qualifying for fifth place out of 13 teams. Junior Justin Moser advanced to regionals in the diving competition.

新年好，PHS, or in other words, Happy New Year! This Chinese holiday was celebrated during the Chinese New Year week, February 12-16, at PHS. This year,the Chinese zodiac animal is the dog. A final celebration at Valparaiso took place in which Ms. Guan was recognized with an award. Students celebrated the new year with the cooking of traditional Chinese dishes and partaking in the traditional Chinese craft of paper cutting. Students who wished to keep celebrating the new year went to Valparaiso University for their “Happy Year of the Dog Temple Fair” on Sunday February 18. Traditional Chinese foods, games, and performances were enjoyed throughout the night.

Students participated in traditional Chinese activities like Jian zi, or Chinese hacky sack, along with trying their hand at Chinese calligraphy. The students also tested their intelligence by solving riddles which imitated the traditional Chinese lantern riddle activity. The students also ate Chinese food like fried rice, spring rolls, Kung Pao Chicken, and stuffed steamed buns.

Sophomore Madison Rose said, “It was fun learning how people celebrate Chinese New Year and the cooking, cooking was really fun.”

Students in Chinese I, II, and III cooked fried rice and Chinese IV cooked noodles. Each class held a contest with the judges being guest teachers and the winners were awarded bonus points.

Freshman Chloe Ganner said, “I really liked the cooking part, because it was fun and delicious.”

Aside from cooking and paper cutting, students also watched videos and read articles about the Chinese New Year and held discussions about the celebration.

Sophomore Abby Spicer said, “I enjoyed it because I like learning about the Chinese culture and feeling more connected to the Chinese culture.”

For those who went on the Valparaiso trip, they were greeted with a special treat of a deeper experience into the Chinese celebration.

Sophomore Scarlet Gibson said that her favorite part was “Watching Ms. Guan get her award. She truly is so deserving of it and more.”

Junior Jessica Baca, who is currently in Chinese IV, said, l “It’s so beautiful the way they write their characters, the patterns on their traditional outfits, and the elegance in everything they do. I find it really interesting how much appreciation they have for nature and the moon.”

Gamble said that he enjoyed, “Hearing the Erhu performance.”

Both Gibson and Gamble have advice to give to those exploring new cultures.

Gibson said, “I don’t know about others, but for me it’s truly a privilege. Being able to (try to) put yourself in that environment either mentally or physically is always worth it (in order) to see it from another point of view.”

Gamble said, “Keep an open mind; in terms of culture, there is no right or wrong — just different. Also, explore all different aspects, from food to music and from philosophers to movies.”

Gibson, Baca, Gamble plan on attending next year if possible and look forward for the chance.

Ms. Guan accomplishments as a language teacher were recognized by the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University that awarded her the “Chinese language teacher” plaque. Mr. Yu, who teaches at Lincoln Junior High, was also recognized and won a plaque as well.

Baca also appreciates Ms. Guan as a teacher when she said, “I have learned so much through my years studying Chinese. Ms. Guan has done an excellent job teaching her students Chinese as well as the beautiful culture it comes with.”

This year of the dog is said to bring changes for one’s career, an increase in fortune, and an interesting turn on people’s love life. Let’s see how the year of the dog goes for the students at PHS.

The girls track team recently traveled to Culver Girls Academy to compete in an invite between CGA, Knox, New Prairie, and Wawasee. The girls team beat Knox, Wawasee, and New Prairie, but fell short to CGA. Plymouth girls are split on whether or not they like indoor track meets.

Senior Emily Cochern said, “I don't like them as much as outdoor meets, because we don't get to throw discus and discus is my favorite.”

While freshman Rachael Kaylor said that she found indoor meets are a bit crowded, but that she benefited from because she could see how far she was running, distance-wise.

Plymouth’s distance runner, junior Olga Lozano Roldan, scored a total of 14 points for the distance team.

Plymouth runners all want to improve and have a great season.

Junior Julia Marohn said, “I see this season as being the best one yet for myself and I hope to break the long jump record!”

The girls track team will be at Indiana Wesleyan College this weekend, March 10th.